Acquisition and evaluation of measured variables which are critical for safety

Abstract

For the acquisition and evaluation of safety-critical measured quantities, for example, of yaw rates (GR) as an input quantity of an automotive vehicle control system, the measured quantities are produced by way of two measuring channels (M 1 , M 2 ) which are independent of each other. One measuring channel (M 1 ) covers the entire measuring range, and the other measuring channel (M 2 ) is set to a partial measuring range. To identify errors, the output quantities of the measuring channels (M 1 , M 2 ) are checked for correlation with the measured quantities acquired by the measuring channels and/or for plausibility of the measurement results.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for determining yaw rate of an automobile, comprising the step of: 
       measuring the yaw rate of an automobile over a predetermined range through a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first and second channels are independent of each other, the first channel measures the yaw rate over the predetermined range, and the second channel measures the yaw rate over a portion of the predetermined range.  
     
     
       2. A method of evaluating yaw in an automobile, comprising the steps of: 
       measuring the yaw rate of an automobile over a predetermined range through a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first and second channels are independent of each other, the first channel measures the yaw rate over the predetermined range, and the second channel measures the yaw rate over a portion of the predetermined range;  
       producing an output signal from each of the first and second channels;  
       correlating output signals produced by the first and second channels to a predetermined yaw rate.  
     
     
       3. The method of claim  2  further comprising, prior to the correlating step, the step of: 
       logically combining the output signals produced by the first and at least second channels.  
     
     
       4. A method of controlling control systems of an automobile, comprising the steps of: 
       measuring the yaw rate of an automobile over a predetermined range through a first channel and a second channel, wherein the first and second channels are independent of each other, the first channel measures the yaw rate over the predetermined range, and the second channel measures the yaw rate over a portion of the predetermined range;  
       producing an output signal from each of the first and second channels;  
       correlating in a logic controller the output signals produced by the first and second channels to a predetermined yaw rate; and  
       producing at least one control signal from the logic controller to at least one control system of an automobile.  
     
     
       5. A device for measuring the yaw rate of an automobile comprising a first channel and a second channel connected to a logic controller, wherein the first and second channels are independent of each other, the first channel measures the yaw rate over a predetermined range, and the second channel measures the yaw rate over a portion of the predetermined range, and wherein the logic controller correlates output signals produced by the first and second channels to a predetermined yaw rate. 
     
     
       6. The device of claim  5  wherein the first and second channels comprise a yaw rate sensor and a signal amplifying circuit. 
     
     
       7. The device of claim  6  wherein the same type of yaw rate sensor is used in both the first and second channels. 
     
     
       8. The device of claim  5  wherein the yaw rate sensor is a quartz tuning fork type sensor. 
     
     
       9. The device of claim  5  wherein the second channel measures yaw rate over a variable range. 
     
     
       10. The device of claim  9  wherein the variable range varies in response to a yawing motion. 
     
     
       11. The device of claim  5  wherein the range of the second channel has a center which adjusts to the average value of the yaw rate of a yawing motion. 
     
     
       12. The device of claim  5  wherein the predetermined range is up to ±85 degrees/s and the portion of the predetermined range is up to ±30 degrees/s. 
     
     
       13. The device of claim  5  wherein the logic controller issues at one control signal to at least one control system of an automobile. 
     
     
       14. The device of claim  13  further comprising a control system which receives the outputs issued by the logic controller.